Lean Blog Audio: Practical Lean Thinking, Psychological Safety, and Continuous Improvement

http://www.leanblog.org/audio294

Today, I'm sharing a question from a reader who started their career at Toyota and now works at another company. See previous posts with reader questions.

The reader has given me permission to share this -- to get your input -- and there are no identifying details included:

I came across something interesting at work around goals that I wanted to share with you and perhaps get your thoughts.

At the beginning of the fiscal year, our manufacturing sites submitted their cost savings targets to me. I looked them over to make sure they both seem reasonable yet challenging and asked questions as needed. From there, I submitted them to the operations VP for final approval. The VP accepted them without question.

We're at the end of the first quarter, and 3 of the 9 sites are not meeting their run rate target...

From 2014 -- http://www.leanblog.org/audio293

We had an excellent English-speaking tour guide for our visit (she lived in Hawaii at one point). As we talked through the facility (up in a "catwalk" that gave good visibility down into the process), she would occasionally stop at pre-determined points to explain something about the process or about the Toyota Production System and its elements.

At each stop, there was a box with a microphone and other audio/visual equipment and speakers. She didn't have to carry a microphone with her.

The guide was carrying a bag, something between a briefcase and a large purse.

One of our sharp-eyed tour attendees, a Chief Medical Officer from a Canadian hospital, noticed a hook that she would hang her bag on while stopped and talking. He asked her about the hook.

Sure enough, it was a Kaizen improvement! And, it was her idea.

From 2012: http://www.leanblog.org/audio292

Dr. Iida talked about the connections between "Kaizen" (small improvements) and innovation (larger improvements) and how, together, they lead to breakthroughs. He also talked about how one is absolutely necessary for the other to occur.

Dr. Iida has been the CEO for just over 20 years and his hospital receives visitors from around the world, including Europe and Africa. They were on the verge of bankruptcy when he took the job in 1991 and they are now "in the black" and had the money to build a new hospital, while most Japanese hospitals are losing money today, he said.

http://www.leanblog.org/audio291

Last week was our fifth annual KaiNexus User Conference (or "KaiNexicon" as we now call it).

One of our keynote speakers was Jess Orr, a former Toyota engineer who shared perspectives on what it was like to now lead continuous improvement in another company. Jess has previously presented three webinars for us at KaiNexus (see links at the end of the post) and she always has something insightful to say.

I took a lot of notes during her talk, so here are some of the highlights as I captured them.

http://www.leanblog.org/audio290

So, upon some reflection, it seems like "Just Do It" isn't really the right phrase to use. A classic suggestion box system has cards that start with listing a suggestion. That's, in a way, jumping to solutions. Kaizen isn't a suggestion box model.

Maybe "Just PDSA It" is a more accurate phrase to use?

http://www.leanblog.org/audio289

In the huddles, the manager and team talk about problems, issues, or opportunities for improvement.

In some huddles, the team might say, "We can't think of anything that came up yesterday."

But, then, as the huddle progressed, the team was asked if anybody should get recognition or kudos for something they did.

http://www.leanblog.org/audio288

http://www.kainexus.com/webinars

Today, I'll be hosting and moderating the latest in our KaiNexus Continuous Improvement Webinar series.

I'm really excited that the presenter will be Mark Valenti -- he's been a bit of a mentor and coach for me on the topic of "Motivational Interviewing," something I've really found helpful these past few years.

Click here to register for the webinar, which is intended to provide tips for leaders and managers (and a transcript can be found at the end of this post):

The webinar is today at 1 pm ET. If you can't attend live, please register anyway and you'll be sent a link to the recording.

http://www.leanblog.org/audio287

General Jim Mattis has been making the rounds to talk about his new book that is out today: Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead.

"Learning to Lead" sounds like it could be the title of a book about Lean management. We're learning how to lead people, to lead improvement, to lead organizations. You might say we're "practicing leadership," myself included.

A few things jumped out from an article and an NPR interview with Mattis that made me think about Lean and the challenges we face in various workplaces. 

http://www.leanblog.org/audio286

This past weekend, an old friend came down from Michigan to spend two days in the Dallas area.

Amongst the activities and catching up, we went bowling -- something I did a lot of as a kid and something my friend and I usually do when we get together.

I ordered a drink -- not a Lean whiskey, perhaps surprisingly -- but this:

http://www.leanblog.org/audio285

This is a radio segment from the KOGO morning news on August 23rd, 2019.

LaDona Harvey: When it comes to your career path, your family’s financial future, or even a weight loss journey, focusing on little setbacks can throw a real wrench in your progress.

Ted Garcia: Joining us on the KOGO news live, the author of, “Measures of Success. React Less, Lead Better, Improve More,” Mark Graban. Good morning, Mark.

Mark Graban: Good morning.